Clip for fluorescent lamp sockets



May 2, 195(1) H. HUBBELL 25415775 CLIP FOR FLUORESCENT LAMP SOCKETS Filed Sept. 21, 1945 INVENTOR.

i atented May 2,

omrrrso OFFICE 225051775 cn'r 'eeeirwoesscme Seekers; Harvey nfibbeltrorie riiii; obii'n; Application eptember 21, 19 4 5; seriai No; 9"Claim's'. (o1. Ive-32o fhis invention relates to aiclip for f hiio'i'escent lamp sockets adapted to retain the lamp in the socketand prevent its falling. A cornnionmeans of mounting fluorescent tubular lamps is hy means of a socket at each end depending from its support, which socket is provided with grooves opening through a lower part thereof into which the projecting pincontacts on the end of the lamp are inserted to engage proper contacts. in the socket to establish electrical connection therewith. Due to variations in the iengthof the lamp and in the mounting of the socket and other reasons,- these pins may not extend tothe full length into the socket, and for other reasons they-may} jar out so that the lamp falls, with: resultant breakage of the lamp and possible: injury to. people:

It is therefore an object ofthe present inven tion to" provide a simple and; efiective'f ciip' which may be attached; to the socket and.-arrangedrto eifectively retain thelamp-inthesocket;

It is also an: object to provide: such; a? device whichisnotbuiltinto-the socketi'asia.partrthereof; but is a separate device to be applied to the socket and, therefore; may; be applied; tos'socli ets the lamp from the socket 'orinstall'ing the lariip therein.

With the foregoing and otherobjects in' riew, I" have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of'tliis specification. It is, however, to:'b.e'- ungerstoodthe device is notlimite'd to thes-pe'cific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications Within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a socket for nip crescent tubular lamp showing 'niy imbrovedciip mounted thereon and"sho'wing' 'one end of the lamp held in position with its coniadts mthe socket: N

Fig; 2 is a sectionsubstantially onthe'lin'e 2 -2 ofFial; A r V Fig; 3*isa bottom plan View ofjthesocket and clip with the lamp removed; and

de (G eir idof the bass and scumie itfto, any suitable. sup rtlnotshown)" Ifhe sock trlalso menses saepenaisg or body sermon" ET provided With fa] pair. of L p-shapedslots opening; throu'ghjits n enqj afia nne sidlleadinglto snitable elcf l9 ndigzpl wiithin the socket! con a n .emat t w prfi n Oi Rh {516% li e; ag i i tw i contactsl 9' aiidzn; by briefer more of iwh'ich' they: are retained inz thesslots Du to renames in the larrip' and also the the l mea e i m hfi l t ee' r ti he 5901??? s e i r A H e llii rb m i i ea this. ave; n ce- .i a. J .fl ii h T iss ns Med aivana tt hmht j eaphhe t l}?-5Q.. 'q1 i qqnst wtin W see e en i ib ee lied t-9 1w o new s ockets but also toold sockets already in um, n t it a This improved clip comprises a sue oifqnig member or clamp 2| adapted, .bermounte d on jsockt. In a the 1 fort; sh colnpr i'se's a stress: sen iment; w'rapndaboiit these assi ii .1 11 Of h ac braid nc nped n sult that the may w Sb iym ans t lemens sew .2? Pass n througho ne freeendof the clarnp and three.

ami 7 1 23 9 a. H .f alamnazet ininam m be: '25. This. mem er may: be of'difierentshafies;

but is so constructed as to be able to hold the lamp in position in the socket. In the preferred construction it comprises a curved loop or substantially U-shape extending around under the end portion of the lamp with the free ends of the sides pierced at to receive pivot lugs 23, which are notched, as shown at 26, to retain these ends of the loop on the pivots. The loop may be bent outwardly and backwardly upon itself, as shown at 21, to form a handle or grip by means of which the loop may be swung laterally out of position, as indicated by dotted lines Fig. 1, to permit insertion and removal of the lamp into or from the socket, and then swung back to the holding position.

Means is provided for retaining this loop in the lamp holding or retaining position, and in the form shown this comprises inwardly extending nubs or projections 28 pressed inwardly from the sides of the loop and adapted to engage a shoulder on the ferrule H of the lamp to retain the loop and prevent its accidentally swinging out of position. In the form shown these projections seat into the groove l2 formed in the ferrule of the lamp and cooperate with the shoulder. provided thereby to hold the loop in position. This loop may be a strip of thin metal, and as it has a certain amount of spring or resiliency it will yield to permit the projections 28 to pass over the end of the lamp into the groove and spring into the groove, so that this action will retain them in the groove and retain the loop in the lamp holding position. It will, however, permit the loop to be swung outwardly, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. l, to permit insertion of the lamp into or removal from the socket.

It will be understood from the above that the device is a very simple one, involving a minimum number of parts. It is not built into the socket as a part thereof and, therefore, does not require a rebuilding or redesigning of the socket or a change of the socket in any way, but it is mounted on the socket as a distinct and separate device, and, therefore, may be applied notonly to new sockets, but also to old sockets already installed. The mounting of this device onthe socket is a very simple operation, and it in no way interferes with quick and easy insertion or removal of the lamp when it is desired to install or renew a lamp, but effectively retains the lamp in position and prevents its accidental loosenin or jarring out in operation.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a fluorescent lamp socket including a base and a depending portion provided with slots opening through the lower part thereof for entrance of the projecting pin contacts at the end of the lamp, of a supporting member comprising a loop embracing the socket, and a loop hinged to said member adapted to embrace the end of the lamp and retain it in position in the socket and movable on its hinged connection to and from said holding position.

2. In combination with a fluorescent lamp socket including a base and a depending portion provided with slots opening through the lower part thereof for entrance of the projecting pin contacts at the end of the lamp, of a supporting member comprising a loop embracing the socket, means detachably securing the loop to the socket, and a separate retaining member mounted on said supporting member and including means to retain the lamp in the socket, and means for mounting the retaining member so that it may be shifted to and from the retaining position to permit insertion and removal of the lamp.

3. In combination with a fluorescent lamp socket including a base and a depending portion provided with slots opening through the lower part thereof for entrance of the projecting pin contacts at the end of the lamp, of a supporting member including a band embracing said depending portion, means for clamping the band on said portion, and a retaining member pivotally mounted on the band and including means extending under the lamp to retain it in the socket, said retaining member being swingable on its pivotal mounting to and from lamp retaining position to permit insertion and removal of the lamp.

4. In combination with a fluorescent lamp socket including a base and a depending portion provided with slots opening through the lower part thereof for entrance of the projecting pin contacts at the end of the lamp, of a supporting member comprising a band embracing said depending portion, means for clamping the band on said portion, a supporting loop pivoted to said band and adapted to embrace the end of a tubular lamp to retain it with its contacts in position in the socket and swingable to and from said position to permit insertion and removal of a lamp, and means to retain said loop in the lamp retaining position.

5. A retaining clip for a fluorescent lamp comprising a supporting member including a loop to embrace a fluorescent lamp socket, a separate retaining member mounted on the supporting member and including means to engage the lamp and retain it in the socket, and means so mounting the retaining member that it may be shifted on the supporting member to and from retaining position to permit insertion of a lamp in and its removal from the socket.

6. A retaining clip for a fluorescent lamp comprising a supporting member including a loop to embrace a fluorescent lamp socket, a separate retain'ing member mounted on the supporting member comprising a loop to embrace the end portion 'of a tubular lamp and retain it in the socket, and means for pivotally mounting the loop on the supporting member so that it may be swung on its pivotal mounting to and from the retaining posit;on to permit insertion of a lamp in and its removal from the socket.

p7. A retaining clip for a fluorescent lamp including a supporting member comprising a band adapted to embrace a lamp socket, means for clamping said band on the socket, a retaining member pivotally mounted on the supporting member and comprising a loop to embrace the lamp to retain it in the socket, said retaining member being swingable on its pivotal mounting to and from lamp retaining position to permit insertion of the lamp in and its removal from the socket.

8. A retaining clip for a fluorescent lamp comprising a band adapted to embrace a lamp socket, means for clamping the band on the socket, and a supporting loop pivoted to said band and adapted to embrace a tubular lamp to retain it with its contacts in the socket and swingable on 5 taining member comprising a loop of somewhat REFERENCES CITED flexible and resilient material pivotally mounted The following references are of record in the on the band. and adapted to embrace a lamp to me of this patent: retain it in the socket, means on the loop adapted to be held by the resilient action of the loop in 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS engagement with a shoulder on the lamp to re- Number Name Date tain the loop in position about the lamp, and said 1,941,110 Ronci et al. Dec. 26, 1933 loop being adapted to be swung on its pivot to 2,228,646 Summers Jan. 14, 1941 and from its lamp retaining position to permit 2,254,706 Mueller et a1. Sept. 2, 1941 insertion of a lamp in and its removal from the 10 2,281,113 Sanford Apr. 28, 1942 socket. 2,319,461 Kelchner May 18, 1943 HARVEY HUBBELL. 2,350,105 Fuchs May 30, 1944 

